Chromatic harmonica



Sept. 11, 1945. F. H. MAGNUS 2,384,758

CHROMATIC HARMONICA Filed June 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9 WENTOR M BY #y TToRNEY Sept 11, 1945. F. H. MAGNUs CHROMATIC HARMONICA Filed June 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 {NIIIIIIIII INVENTOR 64 Patented sept. 11, 194s UNI-TED STATES PATENT oFFlci-z Finn H. Magnus, West Caldwell, N. J assignor to International Plastic Harmonica Corporation, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 25, 1942, Serial No. 448,339

19 claims. (C1. :x4-377) 'I'his invention relates to harmonicas and particularly to harmonicas by which a chromatic scale may be played.

Known instruments of, this character usually include at least two reed plates each haring a plurality or bank of reeds .thereon which are tuned. respectively to the natural tones and half tones, and one or more sets or banks of wind cells with slide valves or dempers, all so arranged that the full or natural tone cells or reeds are 'normally open. or undamped and the full tone and half tone or sharp or ilat cells or reeds can be closed or damped, alternately. However, such harmonicas are complicated and are seriously limited in the range and variety of musical tones, harmony and special eiects.

y One object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved harmonica in which all reeds for the complete chromatic scale shall be mounted on a single reed Iplate and the reed plate shall be combined with an unique construction and arrangement of wind cells and a slide valve, whereby the natural tones and half tones can .be played l easily and selectively by simple shifting of said slide valve.

It is the general practice to arrange each blow" or "exhale" reed and the corresponding draw or inhale reed in side-by-side relation at opposite sides of the reed plate to communicate with the same wind cell. Also the wind or air currents leaving all of the blow reeds pass di-l rectly into a vsound chamber, while the wind ,or air currents entering all of the draw reeds pass'` directly from said sound chamber. In other words, the reed plate and reeds form one side of a sound chamber that is common to all of the reeds, This arrangement requires each wind cell to be of a width greater than the aggregate of` the widths of two reeds, which limits the number of reeds that can be arranged on a plate without causing the instrument to be excessively long. Further, the velocity of the wind or air currents passing the reeds and through the windcells is low, which requires relatively hard exhaling or Vuse on the same reed plate of a substantially larger number of reeds than' in known harmonicas without an excessive increase in length of the instrument; and to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement of wind cells, reeds and a sound chamber, whereby sounds of high intensity and large volume can be produced with easy exhalatlon and inhalation.

Another object is to provide a harmonica embodying novel and improved features of construction whereby either full tones or half tones can be played singly and alone, or either a full `'tone or a half tone can be played with a harmonizing tone to produce a chord, so that a wide variety of musicalchords and special effects can be obtained with a minimum of difilculty and skill and without special tonguingf Still further objects are to provide a harmonica which 'shall embody novel and improved structural features comprising a reed plate and a pair of casing plates or cell blocks so constructed and arranged as to provide a separate wind cell and separate sound cell for each pair of blow" and draw reeds, whereby the instrument shall be simple and unusually intense sound can be pro-"- duced witn'a minimum of exertion; and to provide such an instrument wherein there is a common sound chamber for all of said sound cells to produce large volume and excellent tonal quality of sound, and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a perspective view of a harmonica embodying my invention viewing the same from the front or mouth piece.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the harmonica from the rear. y

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the top casing plate or :body section of the harmonica.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the reed plate with the reeds assembled thereon.

Figure 7 is a similar view of the bottom casing plate or body section.

Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the mouth piece detached from the harmonica.

Figure 9 is a similar view ot the sound chamber plate.

Figure 10 is a detached perspective view of the valve slide.

view

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modification of the invention.

Figure 13 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line I3-l3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line Il-Il of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a rear perspective view of the harmonica with the sound chamber plate removed.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of the wind cell block or plate.

Figures 17 and 18 are perspective views of the bottom and top casing plates or body sections, respectively, and

Figure 19 isa detached perspective view of the rear valve of the harmonica.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to l1 inclusive the harmonica includes a reed plate A on which is mounted a plurality 0f pairs 0f reeds. each pair comprising a blow or exhale reed 2 and a draw or inhale reed I. Preferably the pairs B are tuned to full or' natural notes and the pairs C are tuned to half tones, i. e., sharps or flats. As shown, the pairs of reeds correspondvin number and are tuned to the notes of the complete chromatic scale, there being twenty pairs of reeds each tuned to one note.

Generally the reeds of a pair in a harmonica are arranged in side by side relation to each other, but in accordance with my invention the reeds I and 2 of each pair are arranged in longitudinal alinement with each other or in end to end relation with their adjacent ends in overlapping relation to one another. The reed plate has the usual slots 3 over which the respective reeds are mounted, and the "draw reed is mounted at one side of the plate while the "blow reed is mounted at the other side, both reeds of a pair being secured on the reed plate by the same fastening means such as a rivet 4. 'I'his arrangement permits the use of a maximum number of reeds within a given length of reed plate.

The reed plate is secured between two casing plates or body sections D and E as by means of screws 5. The bottom section D has a plurality of grooves 6 one for each pair of reeds. These grooves serve as wind cells and each is preferably of a width slightly greater than the width of the corresponding reeds and of a length slightly greater than the aggregate of the lengths of the reeds of the pair. The grooves 6 open through the front edge of the body section as clearly shown in Figures 4 and rI.

The top body section E has a groove l for each pair of reeds and said grooves open through the rear edge of the section that is opposite the edge of the bottom section D through which the grooves 6 open. While all of the grooves 8 and 'I can be called wind cells, to avoid circumlocution hereinafter the grooves 'I will be denoted sound cells.

At the front of the body or casing of the harmonica is secured a mouth piece 8 that has a plurality of openings 9, each to register with two adjacent wind cells or grooves i as shown in Figure 11, and at the rear of the body or casing of of the harmonica plate I 0 forming a sound chamber that is common to and communicates with all of the grooves 1 and has an outlet II. The mouth piece and sound chamber may be secured to the casing in any suitable way, but as shown the underside of the top section E has a groove I2 at each end opening through the front and Arear edges thereof and in which lies a screw rod I3 which passes through the sound chamber plate and into a screw threaded boss Il on the rear side of the mouth piece plate l. The front edge of the top section E has recesses I5 to receive the bosses I4 of trie mouth piece plate.

A valve slide I6 is mounted at the rear of the mouth piece plate to control communication between the mouth piece opening i and the wind cells 6. As shown, this valve slide has openings I1 spaced by solid portions I8 so that when the slide is in one position the openings I1 will register with the respective wind cells I for the pairs of reeds tuned to the natural tones, in which position the portions I8 oi' the slide will prevent communication between the mouth piece openings l and the wind cells for the pairs of reeds tuned to the half tones. In its other position the openings l1 of the slide will permit communication between the mouth piece openings and the cells for the last-mentioned or half tone reeds, while the portions I8 will at the same time prevent communication between the mouthpiece openings and the cells for the pairs of reeds tuned to the other scale, for example the natural tones. A compression spring I9 is arranged in complemental recesses 2l and 2I in the body section D and the mouth-piece plate and abuts one end of the valve slide, as shown in Figure 11, so as to normally hold the slide in a position to permit communication between the mouth-piece openings and the cells for the pair of reeds tuned to one scale, specifically the natural tones.

It will thus be seen that there is a separate wind cell 6 at one side of the reed plate and a separate sound cell 1 at the other side of the reed plate for each pair of reeds, and that there is a single sound chamber common to all of the sound cells. Therefore, intense sound may be produced by the air currents flowing through the wind cells and sound chambers past the reeds with a minimum of exertion during inhalation and exhalation and the sound chamber ensures large volume and good tonal quality of the sound.

By simply sliding the valve slide I6 the mouthpiece openings may be caused to register selectively with the reeds of the natural tones or the reeds of the half tones. Conveniently the slide has a iingerpiece or handle I9 projecting from one end of the mouth-piece for manipulation of the slide. While I have shown the slide at the front of the instrument, i. e., at the mouth piece, it will be understood that the slide might also be located at the rear of the instrument to control passage of air through the sound cells l.

In Figures 12 to 18 inclusive I have shown a modification of the instrument whereby harmonizing tones or chords may be played.

This instrument includes two reed plates F and G one of which may be substantially identical with the reed plate A while the other is the same except that its reeds are tuned in harmony with the reeds of the plate F. Between the two reed plates is a wind cell block or plate H which has a plurality of slots 20 therethrough all of which also open through the front edge of the plate or block. A bottom casing section I is secured to the bottom side of one reed plate, i. e., the plate G, while a top'section K ls secured to the top side of the other reed plate of the casing sections, said sections reed plate and wind cell block being secured together by any suitable means such as screws or bolts 2I. The bottom body lsection I has a groove 22 for each pair of reeds of the lower reed plate G. said grooves opening through the rear edge of the section. The top section K has a similar groove 2J for each pair of reeds which opens through the rear side of the plate. Each slot 20 forms a wind cell common to a pair of reeds on each reed'plate, while each groove 22 serves as -a sound "celliorfa pair of reeds'on the bottom reed plate andeach groove 23 serves as` a sound cell for each` pair of reeds on the upper reed plate'. -Asound chamber plate' L is other section having a plurality of grooves open.-

securedV to the rear oi the casing or oi'. the' harmonica, for example in the same mannerin which. the sound chamber plate It is mounted, so as to form a sound chamber between 'itself and the rear edges ofthe sections H, I and K. The sound chamber hasfoutlets 24 at the top and v'bottom thereof, although other arrangements cloutlets may be utilized.l The larger the capacity of the outlets the less there will be of resistance to the now of air currents and-muilling of the sound.

A mouth-piece 25 corresponding to the mouth piece 8. is providedand.a valve-slide Zlike the valve slide I6 is utilized for selectivelyv playing the natural tones and h'ali' tones.

With the instrument constructed as sovfar described, it will be observed that whenever a pair of reeds ofv one plate is subjected to vibration bywind from the corresponding windl cells 2li, a correspondingv pair of reeds on the other reed plate will be vibrated to produce a. tone in harmony with the tone produced by the reeds ofthe nrst-mentioned plate. Should it be ldesired to prevent the playing of the-reeds of one plate, a second valve. slide -21 may be mounted at the rear of the instrument so as to in one position prevent the iiow of air currentsl through either the grooves 22 or the grooves 23. Asshown, the slide 2l has diagonal slots 28 through which pass pins 29 on the body of the harmonica so that when the slide is pushed longitudinally in one direction it will be moved downwardly to close the grooves 22 in the bottom plate K, while when the slide is moved -longitudinallyin the other direction it will be located between the outlets of the grooves 22 and 23 and thus permit ow of air through both sets of grooves. A spring 39 is provided for normally holding the slide in the last-mentioned position, the spring constituting a wire having a loop Aat the center of its length surrounding a pin 3| on the slide and having its ends resting on the pins 29. For holding the slide in the position to close the groove 22 one of the slots 28 may have a keeper notch 32 to cooperate with the corresponding pin and restrain longitudinal movement of the slide under the influence of the spring 30. Manual manipulation of the slide will disengage the notch 32 from the pin and permit actuation of the slide by the spring. A

Other modifications and changes in the details of structure of the harmonica will occur to those skilled in the art as within the spirit and scoper of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I- yclaim is:

l. A harmonica comprising a reed plate, a plurality of pairs of reeds mounted on said plate, each pair comprising a blow reedand its corresponding draw reed arranged in longitudinal alinement with each other, and a body having a ing through the edge thereof that is opposite the aforementioned edge ot the first-mentioned section to form said sound cells.

3. The harmonica. set forth in claim l withv the addition of a. sound chamber common to and communicating with all oi 'said sound cells.

4. A- harmonica comprising a reed plate, a plu rality of pairs of reeds mounted on said' plate, each pair comprising a blow reed and its cor'- responding fdraw" reed arranged in longitudinal alinernent with each other, a body comprising. twoy sections secured together with said reed plate betweerrthem, the ilrst section having a plurality of grooves opening through one edge thereof at one side of said reed plate, each to form a separate wind cell. for one pair of reeds, the-second A,section I having.- at Vthev of said reed plate. a plurality ofr grooves opening through the edge of said second section that is opposite the aforementioned edge of the rst section, each to form a sound cell for one pairof said reeds,

andra sound chamber common to and communicating with all of said sound cells at saidV edge of said second body section. 5. The harmonica. set forth vin claim l wherein said Wind cells are of a width only greater thanthewidth of the correspondingreeds.

6. The harmonica setforth in'claim 1 wherein said'wind cells are of a width only slightly greater than the width of the corresponding reeds and of a length only slightly greater than gate of the lengths of the reeds.

7. For a harmonica; a reed plate,` a plurality of pairs of reeds each including a blow reed and a drawl reed arranged on said plate in longithe acar- 40 tudinal alinement with each other, and common means fastening the adiacent ends of the reeds of each pair to the reed plate.V

8. For a harmonica: a reed plate, a plurality of pairs of reeds each including a blow" reed and a draw reed arranged on said plate in longitudinal alinement with each other andvwith theirY adjacent ends in overlying relation to one another, and a rivet psing through both said endsl and said reed plate to secure the reedsv onthe reed plate.

9. The harmonica set forth in claim 1 wherein some pairs of reeds are tuned to natural tones,

and other pairs to half tones, and with the addition of means for causing said pairs of reeds selectively to be subject to vibration by wind in Y said wind cells.

' vibration by-wind in said wind cells.

separate wind cell at one side of said reed plate and a separate sound cell at the other side of said reed plate for each pair of reeds.

2. The harmonica set forth in claim 1 wherein said body comprises two sections secured together l1. A harmonica including a reed plate, a plurality of pairs of reeds mounted on said plate, said pairs of reeds corresponding in nurber and being .tuned to the notes of the complete chromatic scale, a body having wind cells for said pairs of reeds, andl means for causing said pairs of reeds selectively to be subject to vibration by wind in said wind cells.

l2. A harmonicaincluding a reed plate, a plurality of pairs of reeds mounted on said plate, said pairs of'reeds corresponding in number and being tuned to the notes of the complete chromatic scale, a body yhaving Wind Cells for said pairs of reeds, a mouthpiece having openings and a valve slide i'or selectively establishing and preventing communication between said openings of the mouthpiece and certain of said wind cells.

13. A harmonica including two reed plates, a plurality of pairs of reeds mounted on each plate, each pair comprising a blow reed and a draw" reed, a body having wind cells each of .which is common to a pair of reeds on each reed plate, the reeds of one plate being tuned in harmony with the reeds of the other plate, and means for selectively causing and preventing vibration oi the reeds of one reed plate by wind from said wind cells.

14. The harmonica set forth in claim 13 wherein same pairs of reeds on one plate are tuned to natural tones and other pairs to half tones, and with the addition of means for causing and preventing vibration of alternate pairs of reeds by the wind in said wind cells.

15. 'I'h'e harmonica set forth in claim 13 wherein some pairs of reeds on one plate are tuned to natural tones and other pairs to half tones, a mouth piece having openingsa slide valve for selectively establishing and preventing communication between said openings and the wind cells for alternate pairs of reeds, and means for selectively causing and preventing vibration ot the reeds of one reed plate by wind from said wind cells.

16. The harmonica set forth in claim 13 with the addition of a separate sound cell for each pair oi.' reeds.

17. A harmonica including two reed plates, a plurality of pairs of reeds mounted on each plate, each pair comprising a blow" reed and a "draw" reed, a wind cell plate mounted between said reed plates and forming wind cells each of which is common to a pair of reeds on each reed plate, and a pair of body sections one secured to the outer side of each reed plate. each of said body sections having a groove for each pair of reeds on the adjacent reed plate to provide a separate sound cell for each pair of reeds,

18. The harmonica set forth in claim 13 with the addition of a separate sound cell for each pair of reeds and a sound chamber common to and communicating with all of said sound cells.

19. For a harmonica; a plate having a plurality of parallel pairs of reeds, each pair including a blow reed and a draw" reed arranged on said plate in longitudinal alinement with each other.

FINN H. MAGNUS. 

